Condensate water treatment apparatus and air conditioning system free from condensate water

ABSTRACT

A condensate water treatment apparatus (2) includes a water receiving tray (20) and an evaporator (21) disposed on the water receiving tray (20). The water receiving tray (20) is configured to store condensate water generated by an air conditioner. The evaporator (21) is configured to draw the condensate water in the water receiving tray (20) upward to a surface of the evaporator (21), so that the condensate water evaporates. An air conditioning system free from condensate water that includes a condensate water treatment apparatus is further disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Application No.PCT/CN2017/104215, filed on Sep. 29, 2017, which claims priority toChinese Patent Application No. 201610863850.3, filed on Sep. 29, 2016.The disclosures of the aforementioned applications are herebyincorporated by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of this application relate to air conditioning technologies,and in particular, to a condensate water treatment apparatus and an airconditioning system free from condensate water.

BACKGROUND

Currently, various industrial devices are disposed in a cabinet in anequipment room. Precise temperature control is performed on the devicesin the cabinet by installing a cabinet air conditioner on the cabinetand operating the cabinet air conditioner.

In an operation process of the cabinet air conditioner, condensate wateris inevitably generated. The devices in the cabinet corrode if thecondensate water is not properly collected and discharged, affectingservice lives, performance, and the like of the devices. To collect anddischarge the condensate water, a water storage vessel is disposed onthe cabinet, and a drainage pipe is installed below the floor of theequipment room. The condensate water is collected by using the waterstorage vessel, and the condensate water collected by using the waterstorage vessel is discharged to the outside of the equipment room byusing the drainage pipe.

However, not all equipment rooms can be disposed with drainage pipes,and a relatively high capital investment is required even though adrainage pipe can be installed. Therefore, how to treat condensate waterin an equipment room is actually a problem to be resolved urgently inthe industry.

SUMMARY

This application provides a condensate water treatment apparatus and anair conditioning system free from condensate water. Condensate waterevaporates by using an evaporator disposed on a water receiving tray, sothat an air conditioner has no condensate water discharged.

According to a first aspect, an embodiment of this application providesa condensate water treatment apparatus. The apparatus includes a waterreceiving tray and an evaporator. The evaporator is disposed on thewater receiving tray, and condensate water generated by an airconditioner drops onto the evaporator. The water receiving tray isconfigured to receive condensate water penetrating through theevaporator. The evaporator is configured to draw the condensate water toa surface of the evaporator, so that the condensate water evaporatesnaturally when the air conditioner does not operate or the condensatewater evaporates under action of the air conditioner when the airconditioner operates.

According to the condensate water treatment apparatus provided in thisembodiment of this application, the condensate water evaporatesnaturally when the air conditioner does not operate or the condensatewater evaporates under action of the air conditioner in an operationprocess of the air conditioner, so that the air conditioner has nocondensate water discharged. Therefore, there is no need to install adrainage pipe, reducing a construction difficulty. In an evaporationprocess of the condensate water, no extra energy consumption is caused.Therefore, energy consumption is low.

In a feasible implementation, there is an included angle between theevaporator and the water receiving tray, so that a part of anorthographic projection of the evaporator extends beyond the waterreceiving tray, thereby increasing a contact area of hot air and theevaporator, and speeding up evaporation of the condensate water on theevaporator.

In a feasible implementation, the condensate water treatment apparatusfurther includes a liquid level sensor and a heater. The heater isembedded in the evaporator. The liquid level sensor is disposed on thewater receiving tray, and is configured to trigger the heater to heatthe evaporator when detecting that condensate water in the waterreceiving tray reaches a warning water level, or configured to triggerthe heater to stop heating the evaporator when detecting that condensatewater in the water receiving tray drops below a warning water level.

According to the condensate water treatment apparatus provided in theforegoing implementation, when an evaporation rate of the condensatewater is less than a production rate of the condensate water, theevaporator is heated by using the heater, thereby speeding upevaporation of the condensate water and preventing the condensate waterfrom overflowing from the water receiving tray.

In a feasible implementation, the water receiving tray, the evaporator,the heater, and the liquid level sensor are detachable structures,facilitating maintenance and reuse of the condensate water treatmentapparatus and reducing costs.

In a feasible implementation, the evaporator is made of a porousmaterial, and a surface of the porous material is coated with a waterabsorbing material. The condensate water in the water receiving tray isdrawn upward along the surface of the porous material, so that anevaporation area of the condensate water increases in a multiplying way,and an evaporation rate is improved.

In a feasible implementation, the condensate water treatment apparatusfurther includes an evaporator mounting bracket. The evaporator isfastened to the water receiving tray by using the evaporator mountingbracket, facilitating mounting and dismounting of the evaporator.

In a feasible implementation, the evaporator is further configured todiffuse, to the surface of the evaporator, the condensate water droppingonto the evaporator.

According to a second aspect, an embodiment of this application providesan air conditioning system free from condensate water. The airconditioning system free from condensate water includes the condensatewater treatment apparatus according to the first aspect or any possibleimplementation of the first aspect, an air conditioner, and a cabinet.

According to the condensate water treatment apparatus and the airconditioning system free from condensate water provided in theembodiments of this application, the condensate water treatmentapparatus includes the water receiving tray and the evaporator disposedon the water receiving tray. The water receiving tray is configured tostore the condensate water generated by the air conditioner. Theevaporator is configured to draw the condensate water in the waterreceiving tray upward to the surface of the evaporator. In this way, thecondensate water evaporates naturally when the air conditioner does notoperate or the condensate water evaporates under action of the airconditioner in an operation process of the air conditioner, so that theair conditioner has no condensate water discharged. Therefore, there isno need to install a drainage pipe, reducing a construction difficulty.In an evaporation process of the condensate water, no extra energyconsumption is caused. Therefore, energy consumption is low.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an air conditioning systemfree from condensate water according to this application;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an example of a condensate watertreatment apparatus according to this application;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of another example of a condensate watertreatment apparatus according to this application; and

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of treating condensate water by a condensate watertreatment apparatus according to this application.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an air conditioning systemfree from condensate water according to this application. As shown inFIG. 1, the air conditioning system free from condensate water providedin an embodiment includes an air conditioner 1, a condensate watertreatment apparatus 2, and a cabinet 3. The air conditioner 1 isdisposed on the cabinet 3, and the condensate water treatment apparatus2 is also disposed on the cabinet and is located under the airconditioner 1. An air vent is disposed on the cabinet 3, and isconfigured to exchange air with the air conditioner 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner 1 includes an externalcirculating fan 11 and an internal circulating fan 12. The internalcirculating fan 12 facilitates air flow inside the cabinet 3, carriesoff heat in the cabinet 3 to the air conditioner 1. The externalcirculating fan 11 takes heat away, so as to form hot air. When the hotair blows downward, condensate water on a surface of an evaporator 21 istaken away.

The condensate water treatment apparatus 2 includes a water receivingtray 20 and the evaporator 21. The evaporator 21 is disposed on thewater receiving tray 20. The water receiving tray 20 is configured tostore condensate water generated by the air conditioner. The evaporator21 is configured to draw the condensate water in the water receivingtray 20 upward to the surface of the evaporator 21, causing evaporationof the condensate water.

Specifically, the condensate water is generated in an operation processof the air conditioner 1, and the condensate water drops onto theevaporator 21. When an amount of the condensate water is relativelysmall, the condensate water is directly and rapidly diffused on thesurface of the evaporator 21. The condensate water evaporates naturallywhen the air conditioner 1 stops working. When the air conditioner 1 isin an operation state, and the hot air blows downward through theevaporator 21, the condensate water rapidly evaporates into water vaporand the external circulating fan 11 carries the water vapor out. When anamount of the condensate water is relatively large, condensate waterthat has not evaporated on the evaporator 21 is stored in the waterreceiving tray 20. When the air conditioner 1 stops working, theevaporator 21 draws the condensate water upward, so that the condensatewater reaches the surface of the evaporator 21 and evaporates naturally.When the air conditioner 1 is in an operation state, the evaporator alsodraws the condensate water upward, so that the condensate water reachesthe top surface of the evaporator 21. When the hot air goes through theevaporator 21, the condensate water rapidly evaporates into water vaporand the external circulating fan 11 carries the water vapor out.

The air conditioning system free from condensate water provided in thisembodiment of this application includes the condensate water treatmentapparatus, the air conditioner, and the cabinet. The condensate watertreatment apparatus includes the water receiving tray and the evaporatordisposed on the water receiving tray. The water receiving tray isconfigured to store the condensate water generated by the airconditioner. The evaporator is configured to draw the condensate waterin the water receiving tray upward to the surface of the evaporator, sothat the condensate water evaporates naturally when the air conditionerdoes not operate or the condensate water evaporates under action of theair conditioner when the air conditioner operates. In the airconditioning system free from condensate water, the condensate watertreatment apparatus treats the condensate water, so that the airconditioner has no condensate water discharged. Therefore, there is noneed to install a drainage pipe, reducing a construction difficulty. Inaddition, in the condensate water treatment apparatus, the condensatewater evaporates naturally or evaporates under action of the airconditioner. In an evaporation process of the condensate water, no extraenergy consumption is caused. Therefore, energy consumption is low.

Optionally, still referring to FIG. 1, in an embodiment of thisapplication, the air conditioning system free from condensate waterfurther includes an air conditioner exterior cover 13, configured toenclose the air conditioner 1 and the condensate water treatmentapparatus 2. The air conditioner exterior cover 13 is disposed with asimple cover plate, facilitating maintenance of the condensate watertreatment apparatus.

Next, the condensate water treatment apparatus in this embodiment ofthis application is described in detail.

Specifically, the water receiving tray 20 is made of a metal material,for example, stainless steel, or is made of a plastic material, a foammaterial, or the like. The evaporator 21 is made of a porous material,and a surface of the porous material is coated with a water absorbingmaterial. The condensate water in the water receiving tray 20 can bedrawn upward along the surface of the porous material, so that anevaporation area of the condensate water increases in a multiplying way.The material of the evaporator 21 is not limited in this embodiment ofthis application, and the evaporator 21 may alternatively be made of analuminum foil material, a copper material, an aluminum material, or thelike.

In this embodiment of this application, the evaporator 21 is fastened inthe water receiving tray 20. The evaporator 21 and the water receivingtray 20 may be absolutely parallel to each other, and there is noincluded angle between the evaporator 21 and the water receiving tray20. Alternatively, there is an included angle between the evaporator 21and the water receiving tray 20, and a part of an orthographicprojection of the evaporator 21 may extend beyond the water receivingtray 20 or may not exceed the water receiving tray 20. For example,referring to FIG. 1, a small triangle in the figure represents the waterreceiving tray 20, and a rectangle disposed obliquely on the waterreceiving tray is the evaporator 21 fastened to the water receiving tray20. Because the part of the orthographic projection of the evaporator 21extends beyond the water receiving tray 20, the hot air of the airconditioner can reach a part of a bottom surface of the evaporator 21,thereby increasing a contact area of the hot air and the evaporator 21,and speeding up evaporation of the condensate water on the evaporator21.

Optionally, in an embodiment of this application, the condensate watertreatment apparatus further includes an evaporator mounting bracket 22.The evaporator 21 is fastened to the water receiving tray 20 by usingthe evaporator mounting bracket 22. Specifically, referring to FIG. 2and FIG. 3, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an example of thecondensate water treatment apparatus according to this application, andFIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of another example of the condensate watertreatment apparatus according to this application.

In the foregoing embodiment, when a cabinet device in the cabinet 3 isin a relatively suitable environment or operates in a hostileenvironment for a short time, there is a small amount of condensatewater generated during operation of the air conditioner 1. Theevaporator 21 diffuses the condensate water to the top surface of theevaporator 21. If the air conditioner 2 is in an operation state, theexternal circulating fan 11 accelerates air flow, and takes away heat inthe cabinet 3 through heat exchange, thereby lowering an environmenttemperature of the cabinet device. The heat that is taken away forms hotair. When the hot air goes through the evaporator 21, the condensatewater on the surface of the evaporator 21 evaporates and is dischargedrapidly. In this way, heat in the ambient air is taken away, furtherlowering the environment temperature of the cabinet device. When the airconditioner 1 stops operating, if the water receiving tray 20 stillstores condensate water, the evaporator 21 may continue to draw thecondensate water upward, so that the condensate water evaporatesnaturally.

However, when the cabinet device in the cabinet 3 operates in a hostileenvironment for a long time, for example, operates in an environmentwith a temperature higher than 45° C. and a humidity higher than 95% fora long time, there is an excessive amount of condensate water generatedduring operation of the air conditioner 2. An evaporation rate of thecondensate water is less than a production rate of the condensate water.Consequently, condensate water that has not evaporated even overflowsfrom the water receiving tray 20. To prevent excessive condensate waterfrom overflowing from the water receiving tray 20, in an embodiment ofthis application, still referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the condensatewater treatment apparatus 2 further includes a liquid level sensor 23and a heater 24. The heater 24 is embedded in the evaporator 21. Theliquid level sensor 23 is disposed on the water receiving tray 20, andis configured to trigger the heater 24 to heat the evaporator 21 whendetecting that condensate water in the water receiving tray 20 reaches awarning water level, or configured to trigger the heater 24 to stopheating the evaporator 21 when detecting that condensate water in thewater receiving tray 20 drops below a warning water level. The liquidlevel sensor 23 is mounted in the water receiving tray 20 by using aliquid level sensor mounting bracket 25. The heater 24 is embedded inthe evaporator 21.

In a condensate water treatment process, the heater 24 of the condensatewater treatment apparatus 2 is connected to a power supply of thecabinet device in the cabinet 3. The liquid level sensor 23 of thecondensate water treatment apparatus 2 is connected to a control boardof the cabinet device in the cabinet 3. When the liquid level sensor 23detects that the condensate water in the water receiving tray 20 reachesthe warning water mark, the control board of the cabinet device istriggered to turn on the heater 24, so that the heater 24 heats theevaporator 21, speeding up evaporation of the condensate water. When theliquid level sensor 23 detects that the condensate water in the waterreceiving tray 20 drops below the warning water mark, the control boardis triggered to turn off the heater 24, so that the heater 24 stopsheating the evaporator 21. Afterward, the condensate water evaporatesnaturally or evaporates under action of the air conditioner. Then, whenthe liquid level sensor 23 detects again that the condensate water inthe water receiving tray 20 reaches the warning water mark, the controlboard of the cabinet device is triggered to turn on the heater 24. Anoperation cycle continues in this way. Specifically, referring to FIG.4, FIG. 4 is a flowchart of treating condensate water by a condensatewater treatment apparatus according to this application. The followingsteps are included:

101. An air conditioner operates to generate condensate water.

102. A liquid level sensor detects whether condensate water in a waterreceiving tray reaches a warning water mark. If yes, step 103 isperformed. If no, step 107 is performed.

103. A control board turns on a heater.

104. The heater heats an evaporator, to speed up evaporation of thecondensate water.

105. The liquid level sensor detects whether condensate water in thewater receiving tray drops below the warning water mark. If yes, step106 is performed. If no, step 104 is returned to.

106. The control board turns off the heater.

107. The condensate water evaporates naturally or evaporates underaction of the air conditioner, and step 102 is returned to.

In this embodiment, the heater is embedded in the evaporator. The heaterdoes not operate under a normal condition. Only in an extreme operationcondition, when the condensate water reaches the warning water mark, theliquid level sensor triggers the heater to operate, thereby speeding upevaporation of the condensate water. In addition, power of the heater isrelatively small.

In the foregoing embodiment, the water receiving tray 20, the evaporator21, the heater 24, and the liquid level sensor 23 in the condensatewater treatment apparatus 2 are detachable structure, facilitatingmaintenance and reuse of the condensate water treatment apparatus andreducing costs.

In addition, in the foregoing embodiment, in addition to supplying powerto the heater 24 of the condensate water treatment apparatus 2, thepower supply disposed on the cabinet device may also supply power to theair conditioner or another device. In addition to controlling the heater24, the control board disposed on the cabinet device may also controlthe air conditioner or another device.

What is claimed is:
 1. A condensate water treatment apparatus,comprising a water receiving tray and an evaporator, wherein theevaporator is disposed on the water receiving tray, and condensate watergenerated by an air conditioner drops onto the evaporator, wherein thewater receiving tray is configured to receive condensate waterpenetrating through the evaporator; and the evaporator is configured todraw the condensate water to a surface of the evaporator, so that thecondensate water evaporates naturally when the air conditioner does notoperate or the condensate water evaporates under action of the airconditioner when the air conditioner operates.
 2. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein there is an included angle between theevaporator and the water receiving tray, so that a part of anorthographic projection of the evaporator extends beyond the waterreceiving tray.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising a liquid level sensor and a heater, wherein the heater isembedded in the evaporator; and the liquid level sensor is disposed onthe water receiving tray, and is configured to trigger the heater toheat the evaporator when detecting that condensate water in the waterreceiving tray reaches a warning water level, or configured to triggerthe heater to stop heating the evaporator when detecting that condensatewater in the water receiving tray drops below a warning water level. 4.The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the water receiving tray,the evaporator, the heater, and the liquid level sensor are detachablestructures.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein theevaporator is made of a porous material, and a surface of the porousmaterial is coated with a water absorbing material.
 6. The apparatusaccording to claim 5, further comprising: an evaporator mountingbracket, wherein the evaporator is fastened to the water receiving trayby using the evaporator mounting bracket.
 7. The apparatus according toclaim 6, wherein the evaporator is further configured to diffuse, to thesurface of the evaporator, the condensate water dropping onto theevaporator.
 8. An air conditioning system free from condensate water,comprising the condensate water treatment apparatus according to claim1, an air conditioner, and a cabinet.
 9. The system according to claim8, wherein the cabinet is configured to accommodate a cabinet device,and the cabinet device is disposed with a control board and a powersupply; the control board is configured to control the condensate watertreatment apparatus; and the power supply is configured to supply powerto the air conditioner and the condensate water treatment apparatus. 10.An air conditioning system free from condensate water, comprising thecondensate water treatment apparatus according to claim 2, an airconditioner, and a cabinet.